Game of Thrones season 6: Peter Dinklage praises George RR Martin for humanising dwarves in fantasy books

Dinklage was born with dwarfism and plays Tyrion Lannister in the hit TV series

Peter Dinklage playing Tyrion Lannister in HBO series Game of Thrones (HBO)

Peter Dinklage has thanked George RR Martin for humanising dwarves in Game of Thrones rather than portraying them as The Lord of the Rings-style creatures.

The Golden Globe-winning actor plays much-loved character Tyrion Lannister in the hit HBO series based on Martin's novels. He is 4ft 5in tall after being born with achondroplasia, commonly known as dwarfism.

Dinklage, 46, is full of praise for the author's successful "fleshing-out" of Tyrion when dwarves are often presented as a strange, almost magical species in books and films.

"I loved The Lord of the Rings as books and movies but, like elves, dwarves are presented as another creature. They are not humans in those stories," he told the Guardian.

"We don't have elves walking around, but we do have dwarves like myself. We are real, so it's nice to be humanised in fiction for once, especially in that genre. George RR Martin was clever enough to make a dwarf a fully fleshed-out human being."

Dinklage knows he does not fit the stereotype of a typical Hollywood star, but he's thrilled to see the definition of the leading man diversifying.

"It's fantastic," he said. "You look at the leading men of the past and they are very different. Hollywood is finally opening the door wider to more realistic portrayals of who people are. It's not just about beautiful Hollywood stars."

Dinklage will next be seen starring in Adam Sandler movie Pixels.